News

Vodafone wins court order to stop T-Mobile iPhone sales

By Charles Starrett ● Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The German unit of Vodafone has obtained a preliminary injunction against T-Mobile Germany prohibiting the carrier from selling iPhones that are locked to its network. The order was issued by a regional court in Hamburg, and its goal is to stop the sale of the iPhone if it is sold only in connection with a 24 month T-Mobile contract and/or is blocked in such a way that it can only be used in a T-Mobile network. A T-Mobile spokesperson has said the company plans to continue selling the device, stating that “The legal basis for the injunction is currently being examined.” The spokesman added that the company would decide on a reaction over the course of the day. In addition to the complaint from Vodafone, German telco operator Debitel also lodged a complaint over the T-Mobile iPhone deal. “It is not permissible to link the use of the iPhone exclusively to T-Mobile’s network,” a Debitel spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Comments

1

Ok, I may not know all the details but I just don’t understand this. How can another cell company stop another from selling a product just because it only works on their platform? Is this just the way things work in Europe that no one is locked to a carrier? I obviously am used to the American system where there are plenty of phones that are locked into one carrier. I had to drop Sprint (which I really liked) to switch to AT&T so I could get my iPhone here. Although I was disappointed I couldn’t get the phone on Sprint, that is what I had to give up to get the phone.

I guess my other question would be if Vodafone can do that in Germany, why couldn’t Sprint or Verizon do that here?

Posted by Carl on November 20, 2007 at 2:15 PM (CST)

1

I’m from germany but live in GA for 5 years. I gotta say that I’m very disapointed what i happen back in germany.

like carl said, “How can another cell company stop another from selling a product just because it only works on their platform? “

I’m very disapointed and It’s a mess that a judge granted this. I know that T-mobile is the main carrier and vodafone just got out a few years ago, guess they don’t make it good and they need some money.

I gotta say before i left T-mobile was the only carrier for cell and home phone, also the train infrastructure was handled only by “Deutsche Bahn” and i remember that the goverment or people were in te process with dismantling this monopol so that other companies can get in it to make it better for the customer.

I understand that BUT it is each carrier’s own choise with whom they wantto get together. SOOOO, Apple and T-mobile got to an agreement….done deal!

Well, ... i hate to say it but one more reason to verify to myself that i made the right choise and moved to the states, my new home, love and live!

God Bless America !!!

Posted by dennis on November 20, 2007 at 10:48 PM (CST)

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Laws are different in the EU so I can’t say about legal basis, but Sprint and Verizon both use CDMA so it’s moot here anyway. Unlocked phones are much more prevalent outside the US.

Ironically, if such a lawsuit were to be brought to the courts here, T-mobile would be the plantiff as the only other large GSM provider in the states.

Lastly, I think the US system is nuts and I’m sad Apple didn’t release an unlocked phone here as the only option rather than buying into the US paradigm for mobile phone sales, especially since there is no carrier subsidy on the handset cost. Corporate greed. Apple gets a cut of our subscription cost. They really missed an opportunity here to give us the gift of choice in return for fanboy love.

Posted by rayzha on November 20, 2007 at 10:55 PM (CST)

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THIS IS A GOOD SIGN FOR THE WHOLE OF EU…WHEN IT THE UNLOCKING GETS APPROVAL IN GERMANY, THE REST OF THE EU WILL FOLLOW INCLUDING UK WHERE I AM NOW…GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT…

Posted by iJay on November 21, 2007 at 2:11 AM (CST)

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I am from Germany.
It is not against law to sell locked Phones.
But in this case, you can only buy this Phone from T-Mobile (and only there, also NOT directly from Apple) and you HAVE TO sign a 2 Year contract right before you can get your hands on it. and also after the two years, you just can use this contract.
Also, unlike all the others, people can only choose three plans and no other plan of T-Mobile is included.
So, this is more a political decicion as the result will impact to the future - also to Nokia ect…

1

a classic example of how the US will accept anything thrown to them, while the EU won’t just accept and swallow whatever thrown to them.
double yehey!

Posted by iJay on November 21, 2007 at 12:05 PM (CST)

1

I don’t agree,... if i bring a device out, go puplic, and then chose the one who have the best offer, then why in the heck can it happen that another deny my my right.

it is not that the IPhone is the only device out there! there are many others out to choose.

people are wiiiieeeeerrrddddd ...

Posted by dennis on November 21, 2007 at 2:15 PM (CST)

1

I DO AGREE that T-MOBILE have to give the customer better service plans….

so, u can get t-mobile to move ther behinds to design better plans for the customer but u can’t deny apple the right to choose the carrier they want AFTER they had an open “internview” about who is and gives the best service for their needs…